The LAST Month of 2025’s Reading!

Day 339 – Reading – 2 Corinthians 5 – 9

Read and believe in Jesus!

 2 Corinthians 5.

Paul continues to exhort the church at Corinth on the importance of the Gospel, despite the accusations of the false apostles. Paul is not eloquent or glamorous but lowly and common. He had the “treasure” (Gospel) of God in “a clay jar.” It was God’s surpassing power that enabled him.  They were to keep in view the “things that were unseen,” the eternal weight of glory awaiting them.

Our Heavenly Dwelling

Paul, so familiar with tents because of his “day job,” compares this earthly body to a tent that will eventually be destroyed, as opposed to the “building” from God, a “house” not made with hands, eternal in heaven.  Alive in this body, we walk by faith, not sight.  But one day we will be “at home with the Lord.”

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Either way, Paul says our aim should be to “please Him” and persuade others.

• “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him, who for their sake died and was raised.
• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ, reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.
• “Be reconciled to God. For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Paul continues in the urgency of the message.

“Behold, NOW is the favorable time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.”

Either way, Paul says our aim should be to “please Him” and persuade others.

• “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him, who for their sake died and was raised.
• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ, reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.
• “Be reconciled to God. For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

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2 Corinthians 6.

No Fault in Our Ministry

Then Paul provides a list of experiences he’s endured that might “prove” or “confirm” the validity of his character as a true apostle.

• Great endurance in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 
• Beatings, imprisonments, riots,
• Labors, sleepless nights, hunger,
• By purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
• By truthful speech, and the power of God,
• With the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
• Through honor and dishonor,
• Through slander and praise.
• We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
• As unknown, and yet well known;
• As dying and behold, we live;
• As punished, and yet not killed;
• As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing,
• As poor, yet making many rich,
• As having nothing, yet possessing everything.

He spoke very freely to the Corinthians, “Our heart is wide open, widen your hearts also.”

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The Temple of the Living God

•  “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers!
• What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?
• What fellowship has light with darkness?
• What accord has Christ with Belial (Satan)?
• What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
• What agreement has the temple of God with idols?
• FOR WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD.

“And since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

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2 Corinthians 7

Paul’s Joy

Paul loves those rascals!  “Make room in your hearts for us.  We have wronged no one.”  “I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”

Then he tells them about the anxiety he had for them after his harsh letter.  How he yearned for news back from Titus.  How could he not stay in Troas, but sailed to Macedonia.  And then Titus came with news of their mourning, and their zeal for him, and he rejoiced. Their grief was a godly grief that led to repentance and salvation without regret.  

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2 Corinthians 8.

Encouragement to Give Generously

Now on to practical things.  He reminds them of the offering they are to lay aside each week for the needy in Jerusalem and tells them of the good work the Macedonians have done. “In their affliction and extreme poverty, they gave according to their means, and BEYOND their means, begging Paul for a part in the relief of the saints.”

So now, it was the Corinthians’ turn.  He urges them to complete the offering they began a year ago, so it would be ready when he came.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.”

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Commendation of Titus

He recommends to them Titus (Paul’s partner and fellow worker), another well-known brother/preacher, as well as one more “tested” and earnest brother (messengers of the churches), for these will be taking the money to Jerusalem.

“So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.”

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2 Corinthians 9

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

Paul admits that he is encouraging them now to be ready.  If they come to get the money and the Corinthians are NOT prepared with it, it would be humiliating to all concerned.

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The Cheerful Giver

• “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 
• Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.
• And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
• “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

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